Most would agree that in any nation the population requires assured potable water and an adequate food supply. In any responsible economy a reliable energy source is also required. A few years ago we were warned by some scientists that if the average temperature in some grain growing areas of Australia increased by 1.5C those areas would no longer be viable. My research on the internet since then suggests even more serious consequences. This information is based on modelling which may or may not be accurate. Unfortunately it is a gamble as to where these productively deficient areas will be located. The ABC, always the environmental watch dog, particularly when talking up climate change have recently informed us on their TV weather report that in some areas of Australia we are up to 1.5C to 2.4C above the average since 1970. This to my mind means nothing when taken over a relatively short time span. However, assuming that their figures were correct and average temperatures continue to rise and if some scientists are right in their assumption about grain and overall food production being lessened, we are in deep trouble. In Jack Hallam a former NSW Minister for Agriculture's book The Untold Story it is quoted "That there is more prime fertile soil in the state of Kansas in the USA than there is in the whole of Australia. If a statement like this is correct why would governments both State and Federal, be falling over each other to cover thousands of hectares of precious productive land with heavily taxpayer subsidised solar and wind farms, unbelievably even locating them in irrigation areas, instead of turning to the only reliable source of emission free energy that is available to us. That is Nuclear Energy. Surely people know by now that most renewables cannot provide the power we need when we most need it and at this stage battery storage is too short lived and expensive. While we are earnestly waiting for some new technology breakthroughs such as the use of Hydrogen that are now on the agenda, the most optimistic forecasts predict years for them to come on line for widespread use. Like it or lump it we live in the Nuclear Age and particularly for Australia we should be making the best of it. There are very few alternatives for those who oppose the use of coal and gas. As Terry McCrann recently wrote, "We have three energy futures: coal, nuclear or chaos." Unfortunately because of some questionable scaremongering over the past 45 years it will take a concerted effort to convince people and get the nation speedily on track. Mainly because of unreasonable red, green and black tape momentum is something we are not used to in this country. Hopefully renewables will come down in price, particularly if very generous taxpayer funded subsidies were to be removed, but what about our precious potential food producing land that is indiscriminately being covered at least for the next 30 to perhaps 60 years and beyond. What we desperately need from the Federal Government as soon as possible is a gutsy statement as to where their priorities lie in providing a reliable energy source for all in our nation without regard to ivory tower executives and others with vested interests. The majority of Australians would appreciate a strong stand which they would support, provided that it protects us individually, our industries and importantly our limited productive land. Let us know, email us at letters@areanews.com.au, drop a letter to the editor in to our Banna Avenue office, or use the form below...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Time to provide reliable energy for all

Most would agree that in any nation the population requires assured potable water and an adequate food supply. In any responsible economy a reliable energy source is also required.

A few years ago we were warned by some scientists that if the average temperature in some grain growing areas of Australia increased by 1.5C those areas would no longer be viable. My research on the internet since then suggests even more serious consequences.

This information is based on modelling which may or may not be accurate. Unfortunately it is a gamble as to where these productively deficient areas will be located.

The ABC, always the environmental watch dog, particularly when talking up climate change have recently informed us on their TV weather report that in some areas of Australia we are up to 1.5C to 2.4C above the average since 1970. This to my mind means nothing when taken over a relatively short time span.

However, assuming that their figures were correct and average temperatures continue to rise and if some scientists are right in their assumption about grain and overall food production being lessened, we are in deep trouble.

In Jack Hallam a former NSW Minister for Agriculture's book The Untold Story it is quoted "That there is more prime fertile soil in the state of Kansas in the USA than there is in the whole of Australia.

If a statement like this is correct why would governments both State and Federal, be falling over each other to cover thousands of hectares of precious productive land with heavily taxpayer subsidised solar and wind farms, unbelievably even locating them in irrigation areas, instead of turning to the only reliable source of emission free energy that is available to us.

That is Nuclear Energy. Surely people know by now that most renewables cannot provide the power we need when we most need it and at this stage battery storage is too short lived and expensive.

While we are earnestly waiting for some new technology breakthroughs such as the use of Hydrogen that are now on the agenda, the most optimistic forecasts predict years for them to come on line for widespread use.

Like it or lump it we live in the Nuclear Age and particularly for Australia we should be making the best of it.

There are very few alternatives for those who oppose the use of coal and gas. As Terry McCrann recently wrote, "We have three energy futures: coal, nuclear or chaos."

Unfortunately because of some questionable scaremongering over the past 45 years it will take a concerted effort to convince people and get the nation speedily on track.

Mainly because of unreasonable red, green and black tape momentum is something we are not used to in this country.

Hopefully renewables will come down in price, particularly if very generous taxpayer funded subsidies were to be removed, but what about our precious potential food producing land that is indiscriminately being covered at least for the next 30 to perhaps 60 years and beyond.

What we desperately need from the Federal Government as soon as possible is a gutsy statement as to where their priorities lie in providing a reliable energy source for all in our nation without regard to ivory tower executives and others with vested interests.

The majority of Australians would appreciate a strong stand which they would support, provided that it protects us individually, our industries and importantly our limited productive land.

Noel Hicks, Griffith

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Let us know, email us at letters@areanews.com.au, drop a letter to the editor in to our Banna Avenue office, or use the form below...